MILESTONES
Achievements Mary McDade,
first black person elected to public
board of education
a judge for the Illi-
office in Peoria. The awards commit-
of Algonquin-based
nois Third District
tee also stated, “Long before there
Community Unit Dis-
Appellate Court
was a phrase ‘school-to-prison pipe-
trict 300, including a
(Ottawa), recently
line,’ she was taking a stand against
term as the board’s
received the Martin
unwarranted school expulsions; she
vice president, was
Luther King Jr. Commemorative
kept on taking stands after she left
recently chosen as Maple Park’s top
Leadership Award from Peoria’s
the school board, but she eventually
law enforcement officer. Stiegemei-
King Holiday Committee. “Her life
found new stages.” McDade, who is
er’s previous job was as chief of the
has been wrapped up in housing,
now completing the end of her sec-
South Beloit Police Department, but
education, jobs, and justice,” the
ond 10-year term on the court, was
he is known in the Fox Valley for his
committee’s comments stated. Fifty
Illinois’ first black female appellate
34-year tenure in the Carpenters-
years ago, McDade became the first
court judge outside of Cook County.
ville police department, including
African-American elected to Peo-
Dean Stiegemeier, who spent
considerable time spent as deputy
ria’s board of education; she was the
nearly six years ser ving on the
chief of police.
In memoriam Carlyle V. Alexander, 93, died
Richard John Brashler, 94, died
Dr. Douglas A. Drake, 99, died
December 29, 2017. He formerly served
January 5, 2018. He formerly served
December 25, 2017. He formerly
on the Bryce Ashgrove school board
on the Geneva school board, including
served on the Belvidere school board
with the Iroquois Special Education
a time as president.
for 14 years, including three years as
Association.
Donald Alfred Callaby, 88, died
president.
Michael Glen Bailey, 70, died
January 5, 2018. After retiring as
Eldred “Eldie” Ehlert, 81, died
December 8, 2017. He previously served
an educator in 1990, he served on
Wednesday, January 24, 2018. He had
as president of the Wilmington CUSD
the school board of Big Hollow SD
served on the Meredosia school board.
209U Board of Education and served on
38, including service as board pres-
Myron Edward Erdman, 89,
the Wilmington Library Board.
ident. He previously spent 35 years
died January 17, 2018. He served
Crystal Ann Bedwell, 56, died Jan-
as a teacher, business manager, and
nine years on the Fairbury-Cropsey
uary 4, 2018. She was a former mem-
assistant superintendent in the Lake
school board.
ber of Bushnell-Prairie City CUSD 170
Zurich area, where he was affection-
Violet Frances Fletcher, 99, died
school board. Bedwell donated and vol-
ately nicknamed “Cashbox Callaby.”
January 3, 2018. She was a former
unteered in her community schools and
Vince E. Cruthis, 94, died Decem-
member of the Collinsville CUSD 10
for many other community purposes
ber 6, 2017. He previously served on
and gave time and financial assistance
the Bond Co CUSD 2 school board.
Board of Education. John M. Floyd Jr., 56, died
Sue Darby, 81, died December
December 17, 2017. He was a past
5, 2017. She had served on the East
president of the Limestone-Walters
Charles Donnelly Boak, Jr., 85,
Aurora USD 131 school board and for-
CCSD 316 school board.
died January 4, 2018. He previously
merly taught seventh-grade science
Donald F. Gal lup, 86, died
served on the Johnsburg CUSD 12
for 21 years in the West Aurora school
December 17, 2017. He previously
Board of Education for 27 years.
district.
served on the Leaf River school board.
to many underprivileged students and their families.
Continued on page 25 28
THE ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD JOURNAL / MARCH-APRIL 2018